Grimms' Fairy Tales, by the Brothers Grimm, translated by Mrs. E.V. Lucas, Lucy Crane, and Marian Edwards.
This book contains all the fairy tales your parents were afraid to tell you, because they didn't want you climbing in bed with them at night. It also contains some stories your parents did tell you, but in a different version, because if your parents told you the real version, you would be afraid of the dark.
Examples of the stories include: Twelve Dancing Princesses, King Thrushbeard, Jorinda and Joringel, the Wolf and the Seven Goats, Sweetheart Roland, the Frog Prince, Briar Rose (Sleeping Beauty), Rumpelstiltskin, Rapunzel, Cinderella, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, the Elves and the Shoemaker, the Golden Goose, Red Riding Hood, Tom Thumb, Hansel and Gretel, Faithful John, and Iron Hans. And yes, I am sure there are a few familiar ones on that list, and perhaps a few that you know but which I've left off. But I am sure that once you start reading the stories you will think, "What? That's not how I remember it!" That is because your parents changed it on you.
I can understand why the brothers Grimm decided to write their stories. They generally contain warnings to children to behave, warnings to young adults to heed their parents' advice, lessons to lovers about relationships, and lessons to everyone about morality, all peppered with the occasional hope that in the story of humanity, there will be a happy ending. But this is not a book I would give my children until they are at least in high school.
Still, despite the "WTH, this was intended for children?" reaction, I thoroughly enjoyed my reading of the book. I would recommend it to everyone over the age of 16 who wants a new look at old tales, who wants to study historical literature, or just wants a good collection of short stories.
Edit: Favorite quote from the book: "Then the children went home together as happy as possible, and if they are not dead yet, then they are still alive." No zombies for the Brothers Grimm.
